# Palins Divorce **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 1, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000 "2009-08-01T20:54:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/281 "2009-08-11T15:31:54Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > You haven’t shown that she said so before the fact. Actually, I have – you just choose to completely discount everything Palin says and therefore don’t accept it as evidence. How else could I show it? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/282 "2009-08-11T15:34:25Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > How does that invalidate his knowledge of what he saw inside the family? How could he see “inside the family” Palin’s greed causing her to resign, when he was no longer “inside the family” months before she decided to resign? > [@](#): > > She’s denying that was her motive for quitting. So which do you believe? If it wasn’t her motive for quitting, then **gonzomax** ’s summary is wrong. If it was, then I’m asking how is it “greed?” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/283 "2009-08-11T15:39:20Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > This is the cite game. It takes you ten seconds to type the request and ten minutes for me to find and paste in all the quotes. Were you not paying attention during the election season and honestly don’t remember this? > > OK. Palin’s “seeing Russia” comments came from her interview with [Charlie Gibson](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/Story?id=5782924&page=2): > > That interview happened on September 11, 2008. > > On August 30th, 2008, [Huffington Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/archive/236/news/2008/08/30/were_going_with_the_rumor_sara_1_8598.html) said: The Charlie Gibson interview was the SECOND time she went with “I can see Russia” line. It was actually something she was first quoted as having said on the day of her selection. Gibson was asking her to expand on the line. That wasn’t the origin of it. The HuffPo piece is tongue in cheek. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/284 "2009-08-11T15:41:39Z")
Huh. I thought what we’d been arguing about wasn’t whether it was reasonable for Palin to fly under the circumstances she did, but whether Dopers took similar positions to **Shayna** ’s back when Babygate was initially being debated: > [@Bricker](#): > > I remember **Shayna** ’s point being basically that one – either the rumor was true, or Palin was reckless for flying so close to her due date. I don’t recall too many others adopting that position. Have we established that a goodly number of Dopers did indeed take similar positions to that of **Shayna**? I’ve already linked to where I did. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/285 "2009-08-11T15:42:04Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > OK. Palin’s “seeing Russia” comments came from her interview with [Charlie Gibson](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/Story?id=5782924&page=2)… Is there anyone who really believes she said she could see Russia from her house? That’s what parodies are supposed to do: make politicians look foolish for laughs. Frankly, Tina Fey let her off easy with that one. The later sketch, where she simply repeated everything Palin said verbatim, was much meaner. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/286 "2009-08-11T15:44:45Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > This is the cite game. It takes you ten seconds to type the request and ten minutes for me to find and paste in all the quotes. Were you not paying attention during the election season and honestly don’t remember this? Was I not paying attention to _unsubstantiated rumors_ doing election season? No, not really. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/287 "2009-08-11T15:49:17Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > How could he see “inside the family” Palin’s greed causing her to resign, when he was no longer “inside the family” months before she decided to resign? He never claimed to have heard her say that was her reason for resigning. He said he thought it MIGHT have been because he had often heard her talking about how nice the money would be. > [@](#): > > So which do you believe? If it wasn’t her motive for quitting, then **gonzomax** ’s summary is wrong. If it was, then I’m asking how is it “greed?” I have no idea what her motive was. Personally, I think it was at least partly because she couldn’t stand being stuck in Alaska and missing out on all the media attention. The money still would have come eventually if she’d waited out her term. If she did just quit for money, then of course it’s greed. It’s not for a “job.” She is not, and never could be an “author.” Somebody else will write her book. It’s not like she’d be actually doing any _work_. She’d be abandoning her committment to her state purely for a payoff. How is that _not_ greedy? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/288 "2009-08-11T15:58:06Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The Charlie Gibson interview was the SECOND time she went with “I can see Russia” line. It was actually something she was first quoted as having said on the day of her selection. Gibson was asking her to expand on the line. That wasn’t the origin of it. Ooooh, now I get to do it. Cite? And this is a good-faith request: I never heard that line before the Gibson interview. It may turn out that _I_ wasn’t paying attention!! ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/289 "2009-08-11T15:59:39Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Have we established that a goodly number of Dopers did indeed take similar positions to that of **Shayna**? I’ve already linked to where I did. Yes, I’ll certainly allow that Shayna stuck in my mind to the extent that other people taking the same position seem to have been forgotten. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/290 "2009-08-11T16:01:49Z")
[http://www.clipsandcomment.com/2008/09/12/transcript-sarah-palin-interview-with-charles-gibson-part-i/](http://www.clipsandcomment.com/2008/09/12/transcript-sarah-palin-interview-with-charles-gibson-part-i/) "They’re our next door neighbors. And you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska. " ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/291 "2009-08-11T16:22:05Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He never claimed to have heard her say that was her reason for resigning. He said he thought it MIGHT have been because he had often heard her talking about how nice the money would be. > > I have no idea what her motive was. Personally, I think it was at least partly because she couldn’t stand being stuck in Alaska and missing out on all the media attention. The money still would have come eventually if she’d waited out her term. > > If she did just quit for money, then of course it’s greed. It’s not for a “job.” She is not, and never could be an “author.” Somebody else will write her book. It’s not like she’d be actually doing any _work_. She’d be abandoning her committment to her state purely for a payoff. How is that _not_ greedy? I really don’t mind if she decides to capitalize on her 15 minutes and take the money and run. A valid and understandable choice even if she is breaking her promise to AL. by not completing her term. The unfortunate part is her continued involvement in the political arena and any further political goals that may be revealed in time. Perhaps she only wants to keep her hand in a PAC to keep generating cash. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/292 "2009-08-11T16:22:26Z")
Oh, wait, you wanted [the Couric interview](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/25/eveningnews/main4479062.shtml): > [@](#): > > Couric: You’ve cited Alaska’s proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that? > > Sarah Palin: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and, on our other side, the land-boundary that we have with Canada. It’s funny that a comment like that was kinda made to … I don’t know, you know … reporters. > > Couric: Mocked? > > Palin: Yeah, mocked, I guess that’s the word, yeah. > > Couric: Well, explain to me why that enhances your foreign-policy credentials. > > Palin: Well, it certainly does, because our, our next-door neighbors are foreign countries, there in the state that I am the executive of. And there… > > Couric: Have you ever been involved in any negotiations, for example, with the Russians? > > Palin: We have trade missions back and forth, we do. It’s very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia. As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there, they are right next to our state. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/293 "2009-08-11T16:22:44Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > [http://www.clipsandcomment.com/2008/09/12/transcript-sarah-palin-interview-with-charles-gibson-part-i/](http://www.clipsandcomment.com/2008/09/12/transcript-sarah-palin-interview-with-charles-gibson-part-i/) > > "They’re our next door neighbors. And you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska. " That _is_ from the Gibson interview. We’re looking for the quote being attributed to her prior to 09/11/08. ETA: Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/294 "2009-08-11T16:35:38Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I think Mr. Johnston’s status as “family insider” has been somewhat weakened, and was weakened considerably prior to Palin’s resignation. > > I also think the use of the word “greed” is needlessly perjorative. Assuming she decided to quit one job in favor of a better paying job, is the best word to describe that really “greed?” Is everyone who moves to a higher-paying job greedy? One job for another?? She held elective office . She owed those who voted for her to do the job. She did not quit as a Wal-mart greeter. She let down a lot of Alaskans and conservatives across America. Of course you are one of the “greed is good’ types, since you find it as defining. Are you suggesting that her greed at quitting as Gov. is completely understandable if she can make more money? Do you think she had no responsibility to the voters of Alaska ? She claimed to be the one who should run and save Alaska. Now she says” fuck that ,i got a payday ahead of me". ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/295 "2009-08-11T16:39:20Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > One job for another?? She held elective office . She owed those who voted for her to do the job. She did not quit as a Wal-mart greeter. She let down a lot of Alaskans and conservatives across America. I would stick with the “owe the voters” argument if I were you. [del]Rational self-interest[/del] Greed is the linchpin of our economy. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/296 "2009-08-11T16:44:53Z")
The earliest I can find the Alaska-Russia thing is John McCain saying it to Charlie Gibson on [September 3.](http://crooksandliars.com/2008/09/04/delusional-john-mccain-peddles-alaska-is-close-to-russia-nonsense#comment-790926) I could swear that I remember it coming out of the McCain-Palin campaign on the day of her selection, but it’s possible I’m misremembering something that happened a few days later. I don’t _think_ McCain was the originator of the claim that Alaka’s proximity to Russia gave Sarah Palin foreign policy cred, but I can at least prove it predated Sarah Palin’s own interview with Gibson on 9/12/08. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/297 "2009-08-11T16:51:56Z")
The line actually seems to have started on 8/29/08 with [Steve Doocy](http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/29/doocy-palin-russia/) of … wait for it … Fox News (Surprise!). > [@](#): > > DOOCY: But the other thing about her, she does know about international relations because she is right up there in Alaska right next door to Russia Cindy McCain and Jonah Goldberg picked it up and it spread from there - even into Palin’s own head. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/298 "2009-08-11T17:00:53Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The G.O.P. is going to need a better slogan for 2012. How about “This Time Let’s Take out **IRAN**!” ? ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/299 "2009-08-11T17:19:12Z")
**Bricker** : How about responding to my post #161 in this thread? thanks ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000/300 "2009-08-11T17:29:56Z")
I think the story that the Palins are divorcing is possible and completely unscandalous if true. I thought the story that she was Trig’s grandmother was possible and completely unscandalous if true. I thought the story that she flew home after complications while carrying a high-risk baby were completely scandalous if true. At this point, I don’t even know what the fight is over in this thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palins-divorce/505000.md?page=16)